3 Possible Reasons Your Carpet Smells
You've realised that bad odour in your house is coming from your carpet so now what do you do? Many homeowners make the mistake of thinking a spritz of air freshener is the solution, but perfumes only cover up the problem. In some cases, they can even make the smells worse. The best way to solve bad carpet smells is professional carpet steam cleaning, but bear in mind that you'll want to stop the odours coming back in the future. To do that, you must first pinpoint the reason behind them. Read on to find out three possible causes that could be to blame.
1. Pet urine
If you have pets and you've noticed a foul smell coming from the carpet, the two could be connected. Consider the possibility that your pet may have peed on the floor. Sometimes, dogs and cats urinate in tucked-away places that owners don't notice, and even once that pee is dry, it will still stink out your house. Some find that the smell is even worse with synthetic carpets, as the chemicals in the fibres react to enzymes in the urine and make the smell worse. A professional steam cleaning should get rid of the smell, but make sure to keep a close eye on your pet in the future to stop any more accidents.
2. Old stains
Ever tried covering up a carpet stain with furniture? While that may solve the visual problem, keep in mind that old stains can still harbour a smell. From wine to food, no matter what you've spilled, the remaining particles you couldn't clean up can oxidise or turn rancid over time. What's worse is that the smell can intensify when you try to clean the stain again, as this exposes more particles to the air in your home. Stains are usually accidentally, so it can be hard to avoid them completely, but remember to exercise caution when eating or drinking in a carpeted room after your steam cleaning is complete.
3. Water damage
Carpets are not meant to be left damp for a long time. While you may think they'll dry out on their own, a dried out carpet can still smell terrible, and it may still be wet underneath. This is worse with serious water damage, such as damage from floods, but even a spilled glass of water can leave a smelly stain. One of the key problems is that moisture is a breeding ground for mildew and mould. Mould is a dangerous fungus that can cause or worsen allergic reactions, and it tends to smell bad, so make sure you tackle water damage as quickly as possible by drying it out with a towel or hairdryer.
Reach out to a carpet steam cleaning company if you have any of these issues.